US Will Impose 'Toughest Sanctions in History' on Iran, Bessent Says

By Kanishka Singh and Jana Choukeir

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. will impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday, a focus on economic measures he suggested would lessen the need for new major military operations against Tehran.

His statement followed President Donald Trump’s threat a day earlier of “Economic Warfare” and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided “any type of lifeline to Iran.”

Oil prices rose to more than a three-week high on Thursday following those U.S. threats of financial penalties aimed